A big thank you to Erin and the gang at Burger Republic in the Gulch for hosting our post-game dinner last night. I'm telling you... best place for a Burger in Nashville is Burger Republic, locally owned and operated... and they are hockey fans to boot! Two locations, the Gulch and South Nashville in Lenox Village.
On Saturday nights at Bridgestone Arena, SlapShot Radio’s photographer captures the color and the action from Smashville, so here is your Sunday Shots…
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| From Predators vs Rangers February 7, 2015 |
The knock on the Predators has been a perceived inability of the team to beat a quality opponent, despite winning the season series over St. Louis and getting four of a possible eight points against Chicago and beating Pittsburgh in their barn, so yesterday’s matinee should quiet that talk for a little while as the Predators took down a desperate New York Rangers team 3-2 in front of a packed house at Bridgestone Arena.
Pred Nation’s fears of another slow start were quickly put to rest as both teams spent the first period flying up and down the ice, playing with pace and drive. Both Pekka Rinne and former UAH goaltender Cam Talbot both tracking the puck well and keeping their opponents off the board. The scoreboard finally broke on a Rick Nash goal that was very Rick Nashian… hanging in the slot, two defenders on him, pounding in his own rebound. Nash has really become a complete player under the hot glare of New York and his stats this year are proving it.
The 1-0 lead lasted until less than two minutes remaining in the period as Roman Josi (on his bobblehead day) on a high slot slapper that the Ranger netminder had no chance at… and 42 seconds later… Talbot faced the NHL’s hardest shot… and is still looking for it as the vapor trail still hasn’t dissipated. Shea Weber unleashed the beast and drove home a rocket with 39.1 seconds remaining in the second. Weber, who was very unhappy with a ticky tack penalty call earlier in the period that led to Rick Nash’s goal, showed an uncharacteristic amount of emotion upon scoring that goal… and his team fired off it.
Normally, a late second period goal like that is a back-breaker. Full marks for the Rangers as that wasn’t the case. New York came right back a minute and a half into the third as Ranger d-man Ryan McDonagh wristed one high past Pekka Rinne to tie it up. However, Mike Ribeiro was the hero as he broke down the left wing with a little more the seven minutes to go and surprised Talbot with a filthy slap shot that put his team in front for good. That goal was Ribeiro’s 700th point of his career and had many folks wondering why he doesn’t let that one fly just a little more often.
The Rangers came in to Smashville smack dab in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Metropolitan Division has a four team battle going on with only 4 points separating 1st from 4th. New York should make the playoffs but wants to avoid one of the top seeds if at all possible.
Nashville remains in first place in the Central with 74 points. Both teams are in action today as the Rangers host the Dallas Stars at MSG, Nashville is in Sunrise, FL for another matinee as they take on the Florida Panthers.
Here are your highlights courtesy of nhl.com…
The Predators took off right after the game for sunny Florida for another 2pm start this time against the Florida Panthers. Florida has been a fairly surprising team this season, they were in the mix for a playoff spot until they hit a bad patch, going 3-6-1 in their last ten. Coming into today’s game, the Cats are seven points out of the last Wild Card slot in the East. The only advantage they have is two games in hand on Boston and no one to leap over. This should be a desperate hockey team, clawing for points to remain within shouting distance of Boston.
The Predators will be on the back end of a back-to-back and potentially without Colin Wilson, who left yesterday’s game late in the second period with an upper body injury. Wilson appeared to take a shoulder to shoulder hit while driving the net. His status is listed as day-to-day.
The Panthers are looking to build on a two game win streak and take advantage of the hot streak of Florida forward Brandon Pirri. Pirri has been the Cats hot stick, scoring in six of his past seven games including the last four straight. Last time out the Panthers took down the LA Kings, so underestimating this team can be deadly.
Expect to see Roberto Luongo in net for the Panthers, the general consensus is Carter Hutton gets the nod for Nashville. Hutton finally seemed to round his game out over his last few starts before Rinne returned from injury, his last start coming just last Tuesday, a win over Toronto.
The injury situation for the Predators, Ryan Ellis continues on IR, but he is beginning to skate and Colin Wilson is questionable. Florida will be without Willie Mitchell and Sean Bergenheim, Panthers head coach Gerald Gallant was quoted yesterday that both would “probably… miss today’s game.
The start is the key for today’s game, Florida is rested after two days off and are coming into the match with some momentum. Face off at 2pm central. Coverage on 102.5 the Game and FS-Tennessee.
Here is your video preview from nhl.com
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I’d like you to know about the Peterson for Parkinson’s fundraiser happening on February 16th at the Franklin Theatre. It’s called “Songwriters and Storytellers… and will feature performances from some of Nashville’s premier songwriters. Writers of hits for artists like Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean… just to name a few. For more information, including how to purchase tickets Click here. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm… it should be an awesome show for a great cause.
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Random Notes
- Standings update after play on 2/7 – The Predators remain first in the division, last night’s win took advantage of the game in hand over the Blues and established a two point lead in the Central. The Preds now have an eight point lead over the Blackhawks. The win also shaved the Ducks lead down to one point in the conference and the Preds still have a game in hand. The Blues and Blackhawks play today with an 11:30 start time on NBC in what should be a good one.
- The Western Wild Card continues to do the Pacific shuffle… Last night’s results put Vancouver back in the third spot in the Pacific and dropped Calgary down to the second wild card. Minnesota and Los Angeles trail the last wild card by five points, the Wild have two games in hand over Calgary, the Kings have one. Colorado trails by six points and Dallas trails by seven.
- Last night was Pekka Rinne’s NHL leading 30th win.
- The Predators home record is now 21-3-1
- Congrats to the Maple Leaf… they snapped their franchise record 11 game losing streak last night by beating the Oilers.
- Your Admirals update… Milwaukee beat Rockford again last night, this time by a 7-5 score on the strength of a hat trick from Viktor Stalberg. It’s the Ad’s second hattie this season. The first coming from Viktor Arvidsson in October, as result…. Milwaukee is now searching for more forward named Viktor. :-)
- The frustration in Dallas is palpable as the Stars dropped one to Buffalo last night. Full marks to Justin Enroth, who preserved the win for the Sabres, stopping 38 of 40 shots.
- It was ugly at spots… but a win is a win for Los Angeles as they beat Tamps 4-2. The concern now? Alec Martinez went down and his status is unknown. The notoriously thin LA blueline just got thinner.
- Hmmm… there was no penalty call on the play, the slewfoot from John Taveres in last night’s Islanders/Bruins game may draw the attention of the DOPS. Here it is…
- Eight games in the NHL today – Blackhawks @ Blues, Predators @ Panthers, Flyers @ Capitals, Islanders @ Sabres, Ducks @ Lightning, Stars @ Rangers, Avalanche @ Jets, Canadiens @ Bruins.
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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for @PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game! You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1
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SlapShot Radio will be back on Wednesday, February 18th at 7pm on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network… Our premier, day one sponsor is Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at 615-872-7762. Also The Wine Shoppe at Green Hills and Burger Republic!
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